Anti-rollbar removal

Tdi 300 auto 1998.

Hi there, I'm planning to remove the back and front ARB's tommorrow and wondered if any of you have any tips that you can pass on??

I've had a quick look and there appears to be a balljoint at each end with a castellated nut and split pin? If I'm to undo this nut, how do I stop the stud that it's on from spinning??

I assume that I undo these nuts and then split the balljoints away from the chassis??

I'm doing this as an experiment as I find the ride quality on our smaller roads really choppy from side to side.

All help welcomed,

Cheers Dave

thebiglad said:

I've had a quick look and there appears to be a balljoint at each end with a castellated nut and split pin? If I'm to undo this nut, how do I stop the stud that it's on from spinning??

Click to expand...

Don't worry about it 'spinning', it's well locked

I assume that I undo these nuts and then split the balljoints away from the chassis??

Click to expand...

Yup! If ye don't have a bj splitter, then a couple of chaps with a hammer on the place where yer bj's go through (not the bj's!) should free it up

thebiglad said:

Tdi 300 auto 1998.

Hi there, I'm planning to remove the back and front ARB's tommorrow and wondered if any of you have any tips that you can pass on??

I've had a quick look and there appears to be a balljoint at each end with a castellated nut and split pin? If I'm to undo this nut, how do I stop the stud that it's on from spinning??

I assume that I undo these nuts and then split the balljoints away from the chassis??

I'm doing this as an experiment as I find the ride quality on our smaller roads really choppy from side to side.

All help welcomed,

Cheers Dave

Click to expand...

Hi Dave its Girv

I removed mine when I had the vehicle lifted, the only problems I had was cracking the nuts where they are attached to the chassis (about 2Hours and knackered knuckles) everything else was a piece of cake, just the usual plenty of wd40 and a decent sized breaker bar.

Ride wise i have noticed virtually no difference,but i had 2" higher Heavy duty springs fitted, the biggest difference i noticed was when off roading giving better travel and articulation, if your only looking to drive on the roads Id leave them, I do some pretty extreme off road stuff and thats the only reason I took mine off.

Pain in the arse to take off, id leave em to be honest unless you want more roll on road unless you upgrade your springs.

Carl

I took my rear one off cos i nearly ripped it off, off road. there is not that much difference in roll on road.

I've got fresh experience of driving my 300tdi Disco with and without ARB's, with both the standard suspension, and upgraded lifted suspension. One of my ball joints was knackered, and I was told it wasn't a fail to not have them, but it was a fail to have them if they are faulty. So I took them off, and IMO it drove like a canoe, and cornering was a bit dodgy, and had to be done slower than normal. I was misinformed and it failed the MOT for not having any. Only L reg or older cars don't need them apparently. However that may not be relevant to you in France. So I got new joints and fitted them, and got my MOT certificate. I then fitted a 2" lift kit with Britpart heavy duty springs, and decided that because I've got an MOT for another 11 and half months I'd take them of again for articulation purposes (but keep them in my shed for next year). I'd say that it drives now (2" lift and no ARB's) as well as it did originally with the standard suspension and ARB's in terms of road driving, but with the anti roll bars on, it was definitely a more positive road driving experience.
As an alternative to taking them off, you could just use tow bar spacers to pack them out at the chassis end and compensate for any lift you are giving your car. My suggestion is you keep them one way or another unless you really want the additional articulation, especially with standard suspension.

Hope this helps.

Baloo

Well thanks for al the quick replies guys, that's really great.
Everyone seems to be saying leave them on unless I want more articulation - which I don't !!

I'm also getting the impression that this might be a can of worms to do and well, I have enough of them for this week, so I think I might just have a quiet day and maybe just go out for a drive !!

Thanks to all contributers,

Dave